2018 NFL Draft: LB Shaquem Griffin a fit for Chargers?

If he wasn’t already, after his showing at the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, the former University of Central Florida linebacker Shaquem Griffin must be on the Chargers draft board.

Griffin was already capturing headlines during his college days by playing at an incredibly high level with only one hand. Now, after recording an electric 4.38-second 40-yard dash time, and hitting 20 reps on the bench press, people are finally looking past the inspiring one-hand story and seeing Griffin as the elite level linebacker that he is.

“I’ll do anything a team wants me to do. Linebacker, defensive back, edge rusher. Heck, if you need a punter or kicker, just give me a minute to warm my foot up, I’ll be good,” Griffin said at the combine Sunday, per Pewter Report’s Trevor Sikkema.

Set aside, for now, the combine performance. Ignore the Hollywood made, against all odds, storyline for the moment. Focus on what Griffin would bring to the Chargers. For one, he’s a linebacker that is fast enough to cover receivers and isn’t afraid of putting his head down and wrapping up the toughest of runners. The Chargers need to worry about covering Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and bringing down Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch four times a year, and Griffin can certainly help with both of those issues.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the Chargers need to put people in seats. They have a handful of big names on the team, but quarterback Philip Rivers isn’t getting any younger. Neither is tight end Antonio Gates, who may not be back for 2018, for that matter. Both wide receiver Keenan Allen and running back Melvin Gordon are only as good as their health allows them to be. But should Los Angeles bring in a potential Pro-Bowl caliber linebacker with one hand, they immediately upgrade their defense while also getting themselves a headliner. Don’t think for a second the Spanos family hasn’t considered that.

Wherever Griffin ends up, writers and reporters are sure to follow. As mentioned before, his story is made for Hollywood — and it would only be fitting if he ended up nearby.